Spindelegger worried about religious violence in Nigeria

Media reports of Christian family of eight brutally murdered on Sunday

Vienna, 6 September 2011 – Foreign Minister and Vice-Chancellor Michael Spindelegger expressed his concern about the increasing number of reports of acts of violence between religious groups in Nigeria. Recent reports in the international media described the fate of a Christian family of eight who are said to have been cruelly murdered in a region of Nigeria inhabited by both Christians and Muslims.

Spindelegger called upon all sides to put a halt to the spiral of violence, saying that those responsible for crimes motivated by religion – no matter by which side they are committed – must be called to account. “The acts of violence reported to us are a shocking expression of inconceivable barbarity. Here, impunity cannot be an option,” underlined Spindelegger. Existing tensions between the various religious groups would have to be resolved by dialogue, emphasised the Foreign Minister, calling upon the religious groups “to show greater mutual tolerance and cooperate more closely”.

For more information, contact:Federal Ministry for European and International AffairsPress DepartmentTel.: +43(0)501150-3262, 4549, 4550; F: +43(0)501159-213Email: abti3(at)bmeia.gv.at